Egypt has launched a major electricity infrastructure project valued at 25 billion Egyptian pounds (US$800 million) to supply power to one million feddans of reclaimed farmland in the West Minya Plain, as authorities seek to accelerate agricultural development and strengthen food security.
The project, announced by the Egyptian Countryside Development Company, involves the construction of extra-high-voltage and high-voltage substations and feeder lines in coordination with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, which operates under the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy.
It forms part of Egypt’s flagship 1.5 Million Feddan Project, a national initiative aimed at expanding cultivated land, attracting private investment and creating new agricultural communities, particularly in Upper Egypt and other underdeveloped regions.
According to a company statement, the project will be implemented under a cooperation and consultancy contract with the Egyptian Power Systems Engineering Company (EPS), one of the country’s largest specialised firms in extra-high-voltage power infrastructure. EPS will review technical designs and oversee tendering and construction works for the electricity network serving the West Minya Plain.
The electricity extension targets around one million feddans equivalent to more than 420,000 hectares and will be rolled out in two phases. The first phase, with an initial capacity of 100 megavolt-amperes (MVA), will cover South-West West Minya, the western extension of Minya governorate, and parts of West Manfalut and Al-Qusiya.
The second phase will expand supply to Darb Al-Behnasawy, West Minya and North-West West Minya, broadening coverage across the desert reclamation zone. Once all phases are completed, the total capacity of the project is expected to reach about 500 MVA, sufficient to power agricultural, industrial and residential activities across the targeted lands.
Amr Abdel Wahab, chairperson and managing director of the Egyptian Countryside Development Company, described the project as a cornerstone of modern agricultural development under the national land reclamation programme.
“Providing electricity is not merely about infrastructure readiness; it is a decisive factor in enabling modern agriculture, supporting investors and creating an integrated environment for agricultural and food production,” Abdel Wahab said.
He added that the project is being carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy as part of a broader national partnership aimed at accelerating development and advancing food security.
Electricity access is seen as critical to attracting private investment into newly reclaimed areas, enabling irrigation systems, cold storage facilities, food processing plants and mechanised farming techniques. Without reliable power, many reclaimed lands have struggled to reach their productive potential.
The West Minya Plain has been identified as a strategic zone within the 1.5 Million Feddan Project due to its location, soil characteristics and proximity to transport corridors linking Upper Egypt to domestic and export markets.
Abdel Wahab said the electricity project is part of a wider infrastructure strategy that includes road construction, telecommunications networks and longer-term plans to integrate renewable energy stations, particularly solar power, into the area’s energy mix.
“This project will directly improve agricultural productivity, encourage investors to inject capital into fully serviced land and create job opportunities for young people in Upper Egypt,” he said. “It also supports a more balanced distribution of development, in line with Egypt Vision 2030.”
Egypt Vision 2030 is the government’s long-term development framework, which prioritises sustainable growth, food security, regional equity and increased private-sector participation.
Officials said all phases of the power project will be implemented according to international technical standards, with oversight from the consultancy firm to ensure quality, safety and adherence to timelines. Coordination between public institutions and private contractors, they added, reflects a model for delivering large-scale national projects.
Authorities expect the initiative to generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, stimulate agricultural investment and help establish stable communities in newly developed desert reinforcing Egypt’s push to expand domestic food production amid global supply uncertainties.
